--- title: "BMW Is Planning a Mercedes G-Class Rival: TDS" date: "2025-08-13" modified: "2025-08-13" authors: - name: "Joel Feder" job_title: "Director of Content and Product" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/joel-feder" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/bmw-is-planning-a-mercedes-g-class-rival-tds" categories: - "News" - "The Downshift" --- # BMW Is Planning a Mercedes G-Class Rival: TDS ![Mercedes-Benz G-Class]() Good morning and welcome to *The Downshift*, or *TDS* for short. *The Downshift* is The Drive's weekday early morning quick-hit news rundown of the latest automotive stories bubbling around the world. Grab a cup of coffee and a Pop-Tart. All feedback on *TDS* is and has been appreciated via the comments section and email (tips@thedrive.com). Right, tight, and light, *TDS* is a quick-hit piece that is not a full-featured story or in-depth reporting. Stories are summarized in a single sentence accompanied by a link for those seeking more information. The first cup of coffee is gone here, so let's get into it. 🚘 What I’m driving: The 2025 Chevrolet Blazer EV SS is in my driveway and it's quick with a 0-60 mph time of 3.4 seconds. πŸš™ BMW will expand its lineup to include a [Mercedes G-Wagon rival]() based on the mid-size X5 platform built in America arriving in 2029 to serve as a halo model. πŸ‡ΈπŸ‡ͺ Volvo's [bringing back a front-wheel-drive turbo-4 version]() of the XC40 crossover to lower the price of the model lineup. πŸ‡°πŸ‡· The Genesis G70 sport sedan is now [predicted to disappear]() after the 2027 model year with no direct replacement. πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ Czinger's CCO said the American hypercar maker [will not expand the lineup]() with a GT or SUV, rather it'll stick to more variants of the 21C hypercar. 🏁 It took a mere month for Koenigsegg to steal the [0-249-0 mph record]() back from Rimac. πŸͺ« The Polestar 3 electric SUV [set a Guinness World Record]() for the longest distance traveled by an electric SUV on a single charger covering 581.3 miles before running out of juice. ✨ Rivian [created its first one-off]() with a custom R1S Quad Pebble Beach model, which will be auctioned off this week during Monterey Car Week as the automaker's only factory-made one-of-one vehicle. *Have feedback on the formatting of TDS? Send us a note: tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Overseeing what you see, read, touch, hear, and interact with from the vast lakes of Minnesota, Joel Feder shapes how The Drive looks and operates as the head of content and product initiatives. On a daily basis, Joel leads the newsroom and editorial staff playing point on both short-term coverage and long-term strategic plans. His mission is to help ensure The Drive shapes the future of automotive media by helping the team execute original reporting, breaking news, and exclusive opportunities. Regarded as an industry insider and recognized by colleagues, fellow journalists, and manufacturers as a point-person and leader in the industry, Joel owns and runs the largest automotive professionals group on Facebook in an effort to serve and help others. Joel serves as a juror for the World Car Awards. In addition, he is the board chair and chair of the governance and nominating committee for Move Forward MN, a local non-profit that helps at-risk youth with barrier-free mental health and housing services. While you’re reading this he’s either on his computer or iPhone chasing the latest news or drafting a story. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]() [Bluesky]() [Email]()